Piano has quickly become one of the most favored instruments in hip-hop, often serving as an introduction, main theme or background instrument in popular rap songs.
Piano riffs can be easily created by playing the top, middle, and bottom notes of a chord in succession. This simple method makes them an effective way to start learning hip hop piano songs.
Imagine by Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg and D’Angelo’s classic is an enduringly memorable piece from hip hop’s golden age – 90s hip hop. This song captures its relaxed yet upbeat spirit while inspiring listeners to unleash their creative energies for a better tomorrow.
GZA’s “Liquid Swords” showcases his sharp poetic lyricism with lyrics as sharp as a samurai sword, showing off the Brooklyn MC’s remarkable ability to transform streetwise narratives into captivating artistry. RZA and producer Ski’s production, featuring melancholic piano-laden beats that set an emotive atmosphere for GZA’s thought-provoking lyrics to soar.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince’s “Summertime” epitomizes the casual summertime vibes that define hip-hop music, providing an ode to carefree fun that remains timeless today. Its soothing blend of jazz samples and relaxing raps perfectly capture the carefree experience of an afternoon, creating one of classic hip-hop’s iconic tracks.
Dead Prez’s “Hip-Hop” captures the dynamic energy of conscious rap in a striking manner. Lyrically depicting social problems through rhythmic poetry, this track serves as both a warning and call to action – showing that even though popular culture may cause damage, rappers have the power to inspire positive change.
From Time by Drake
Rap and hip-hop music has long incorporated classical pieces, often orchestral arrangements, into its compositions, but Drake took this practice one step further on this track by pairing multi-instrumentalist Chilly Gonzales’ lush harmonics with minimalist beats to create an introspective mood – creating a track which speaks of fame, success, and its various challenges.
Drake has quickly emerged as a major force in rap culture since his 2010 debut album. While earlier genre-benders like Kanye West and Lil Wayne dabbled with melodic rapping, Drake turned it into his worldview. Take Care, his second album released shortly thereafter, is an emotional exploration of fame’s impact on loved ones; its artwork features Drake staring out from behind an antique goblet with classic paintings around it; it also popularized YOLO (You Only Live Once).
On From Time, Drake showcases his ability to craft catchy hooks over an appealing flute riff that’s both charming and deceptively intricate. Drake makes even his corniest lines work – like “I’ve been known to ball in Christmas crackers”. But that cockiness helps From Time become such a hit; its lyrics serve as a working definition of its vibe.
The Game’s Hard Liquor
Hip hop music often features bass and percussion beats, but iconic rap songs include songs using other instruments such as piano. One such track from The Game’s 2003 album Hard Liquor called “Intro” features a piano rhythm which complements the staccato eighth note funk groove of bass drum – providing another element to add without diluting its energy.
In the ’90s, R&B and hip-hop began to merge into what is now considered contemporary rap. One artist who helped pioneer this trend was Mary J. Blige’s 1992 debut album which combined elements of both genres together in Real Love by Stevie Wonder – complete with its catchy and funky piano groove reminiscent of Stevie’s Piano Groove from this record – making a significant statement about music history as an early pioneer of this trend.
I Don’t Know Why is another highlight from the album, featuring an infectiously catchy chorus with a melancholy melody that will have everyone at the bar singing along. Additionally, this record contains more experimental cuts, like Mural; an experimental stream-of-consciousness meditation which features a propulsive drum beat with samples taken from Chick Corea’s 1974 composition The Romantic Warrior as well as an infectious guitar riff from British rock band Wallace Collection’s 1975 single Daydream.
Down is an incredible example of how rap producers can incorporate piano into more modern sounds. This song showcases its ability to set an atmospheric and more relaxed vibe than most rap beats; at the same time, piano adds texture without taking up too much studio space, helping producers save money on studio fees.
Tupac’s I Ain’t Mad At Cha
At Coachella in 2018, Dre and Snoop began their set with an energetic rendition of Tupac’s 1996 hit, California Love. Instead of featuring an animatronic piano performance like many artists have done before them, Dre and Snoop made this performance unique by including live band playing piano – an especially poignant moment given both its message and importance to modern hip-hop music as it pertains to being performed on piano.
Original rap beats were generally produced using drum machines that looped samples from old disco, funk and jazz records; but by the late ’80s and early ’90s producers had begun using audio samplers that allowed for greater creativity when it came to crafting their beats. Producers like J Dilla, Timbaland and others would cut, splice and fit piano melodies into tight grids or looping schemes to produce repetitive beats that rappers could rhyme over.
One of the most well-known examples is this classic Nas track from his album Illmatic, produced by Pete Rock using a looped interpretation of Ahmad Jamal’s piano composition “I Love Music” to craft its soundtrack and give its emotional backdrop an entirely new life as hip-hop beats. It stands as proof that linear piano melodies can still retain much of their emotional impact when transformed into hip-hop beats!
Nas and Pac address an individual who has been arrested on drug-related charges and are now imprisoned, telling them he “ain’t mad at them”.
Although released posthumously, 2Pac’s death made this track one of the finest on his two-disc album All Eyez on Me. The music video showcases footage of 2Pac reciting lyrics in front of Marin City residents near California.
Erykah Badu’s On & On
Erykah Badu has long exuded an old soul persona that’s evident both musically and visually. Her soulquarian member vocals have often been compared to jazz icon Billie Holiday – something which her predecessor Erykah Badu did so successfully during her solo career. Today, her classical-influenced sound remains timeless yet contemporary!
Badu’s 1997 debut album Baduizm is proof of her determination and “On & On,” one of its singles from that project, serves as evidence. A piano-driven number, this song expresses how life continues on regardless of any setbacks experienced and we must learn lessons from our experiences to move forward in life.
Apart from piano, this track also includes choir and strings to add an emotional depth. Although somewhat slow-paced, this song makes an ideal piano track due to its emotionality.
Contrary to most hip-hop songs of its time, this track features multiple producers all coming together to craft this incredible work of art. This multi-track song stands out as being unique; its production had an immense effect on how rap tracks are created nowadays.
The music video for “This Song Is Mine” takes place in an idyllic countryside scene where we see many young black couples dressed to impress and playing children playing nearby. Cows, chickens and children abound; its tone perfectly conveys how Badu and her fellow musicians wanted to incorporate country life into their music and show their affection for its culture – the very culture which brought them hip-hop in the first place! They used this visual to demonstrate this sentiment through song.